Selective Breeding?

[marisaKC]

First time poster with a question. I have a mixed flock with a few different breeds of roosters and a few different breeds of hens. I'd like to have certain roosters breed certain hens so that I have specific breeds of chicks. How long do I need to wait after the breeding pair is segregated from the rest of the flock to start collecting eggs for the incubator? I assume that for a few days I could theoretically still be getting eggs that were fertilized prior to the hen being put in with the intended rooster? I hope all that makes sense.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

How long do I need to wait after the breeding pair is segregated from the rest of the flock to start collecting eggs for the incubator?

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

I would say not less than 21 days before you start collecting from the new stag. I easily get fertility for 10-14 days after separation. There is some beyond that, but not enough or not important enough for me to try hatching beyond that. But enough that if I didn't have extra energy or space for possible cross breeds.. I would wait at least 21 days. 30 days *should* guarantee your genetics.

Another way to determine would be separate the hen and start cracking her eggs open after a couple weeks and look for the blastodisk or blastoderm to see if eggs are fertile or infertile before adding your new rooster. And then start collecting a couple days after adding him.

At my place... I keep all my stags in one pen and all ladies in another. So all hen eggs are unfertilized and all the boys get along. I add the stag I wish to hatch from to all the ladies, just for the day and return him to his stag flock (after roost while dark) before pecking order gets out of whack. I then collect eggs from only the hens I wish to hatch from... I have kept about 5 different breeds in only 2 yards... keeping different colored layers helps with this tactic. But with this set up, if I want to do individual test matings.. no waiting.

Happy chicken-eering!

 

[CountryFlock]

About 4 weeks or a month.

It can sometimes be a week longer than that too.

 

[Perris]

hello @marisaKC ! welcome to BYC
good luck with your breeding programme

 

[marisaKC]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

I would say not less than 21 days before you start collecting from the new stag. I easily get fertility for 10-14 days after separation. There is some beyond that, but not enough or not important enough for me to try hatching beyond that. But enough that if I didn't have extra energy or space for possible cross breeds.. I would wait at least 21 days. 30 days *should* guarantee your genetics.

Another way to determine would be separate the hen and start cracking her eggs open after a couple weeks and look for the blastodisk or blastoderm to see if eggs are fertile or infertile before adding your new rooster. And then start collecting a couple days after adding him.

At my place... I keep all my stags in one pen and all ladies in another. So all hen eggs are unfertilized and all the boys get along. I add the stag I wish to hatch from to all the ladies, just for the day and return him to his stag flock (after roost while dark) before pecking order gets out of whack. I then collect eggs from only the hens I wish to hatch from... I have kept about 5 different breeds in only 2 yards... keeping different colored layers helps with this tactic. But with this set up, if I want to do individual test matings.. no waiting.

Happy chicken-eering!

That's a great idea re: the blastoderm!! Thanks so much!!

 

[NNYchick]

This next spring will be my first year separating my colors for breeding. I plan to do like EggSighted4Life mentioned and separate my rooster from my hens since I can’t chance waiting for them to clear for 3 weeks as they will probably be broody when I’m ready. So I can set up then use set up small breeding pens with selected hens and rooster. I have it a little easier as I have silkies and they can’t fly so I will use metal dog play pens to contain them, till I’ve collected the eggs I want.
Another step is you can separate the roosters from the hens put the boy in with the hens then vent color with food coloring on the hen you want to hatch from so you can pick out her eggs. Here is an article about it. https://americansilkiebantamclub.org/pages/tips-tricks-for-pedigree-breeding

 

[starri33]

I've always heard it was two weeks for the hens to be separated and then have the roo added, so it's good to know it's 4 weeks. I've got 5 NN's right now with a NN Roo going to join up with them, I'd like to keep it strictly NN stock and then breed even more for a total NN, the one's I have right now have bibs.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

After my rooster died I was getting fertile eggs up to 3 weeks later. I'd wait at least 4 weeks before collecting for hatching. Welcome to BYC! It's a wonderful community to be a part of.